sugar
LESSON 2: PARTS OF SPEECH MASS NOUNS wine
they do not have plural forms bread
NOUN they cannot be preceded by a tea
number or “a” and “an” rice
It is a name of a person, place, thing or idea.
they cannot be counted milk
(use quantifiers)
toothpaste
pizza
PLURALITY perfume
Regular = add -s or -es
Irregular
Tip #1. If the noun ends in -us, change the ending to I
Ex: alumnus/alumni
COMMON AND PROPER NOUNS
Tip #2. If the noun ends in -f or -fe, change the
Month
The Avengers ending
country
Christmas to -ves
book
superhero Toblerone Ex: leaf = leaves; knife =knives
mountain Pampanga
Tip #3. If the noun ends in -um or -on, change the
Nike
ending to -a
Ex: phenomenon/phenomena;
bacterium/bacteria
Tip #4. Some nouns change vowels when they
ABSTRACT AND CONCRETE NOUNS
become irregular plural nouns
apple = concrete
Ex: mouse/mice; goose/geese; man/men;
fact = abstract
calm = abstract
pencil = concrete Tip #5. Some nouns do not change at all when they
kindness = abstract become irregular plural nouns
Ex: rice, deer, sheep, moose
PRONOUN
COLLECTIVE NOUNS It is defined as a word or phrase that is used as a
substitution for a noun or noun phrase, which is
A large and organized group of known as the pronoun’s antecedent.
instrumentalists, led by a conductor =
ORCHESTRA Ex: Alice is a law student. She likes reading cases.
A group of players, sportsmen or workers =
TEAM
A group of related individuals = FAMILY ADJECTIVE
A group of experts or judges = PANEL
It is used to modify or describe a noun or a pronoun.
A group of spectators or listeners =
AUDIENCE Adjectives modify or describe nouns and pronouns.
They can be attributive (occurring before the noun)
More examples:
or predicative (occurring after the noun).
bees = SWARM
Ex:
fish = SCHOOL
sheep = HERD The proud soldier is home.
ants = COLONY The soldier is proud.
wolves = PACK The dedicated employee starts early.
flowers = BOUQUET The employee is dedicated.
trees = FOREST/MANGROVE
mountains = RANGE
grapes = BUNCH
COMPARATIVE ADJECTIVES
cigarettes = PACKET
They are used to compare two things. They’re usually I closed the door.
formed by adding the suffix “-er” (or “-r” if the word
ends in the letter “e”). For two-syllable words that end INTRANSITIVE VERBS: do not have an object to
in “y,” the “y” is replaced with “-ier.” receive an action
Ex: Ex:
Ana’s essay is longer than April’s. I laughed.
His father is richer than his uncle. Your dog barks a lot.
They can also be formed by adding “more” or “less”
before an adjective that has not been modified. The TENSES
“more” form is typically used for words with two or
more syllables, while the “less” form is used for all A tense is a verb form that shows the time of an
adjectives. action or condition.
Ex: SIMPLE TENSES
I have never met a more honorable person. Present: Rain aids plant growth.
The host is more generous with the kids and Past: Rain aided plant growth.
less generous with the adults. Future: Rain will aid plant growth.
SUPERLATIVE ADJECTIVES ADVERB
They are used to indicate that something has the It is a word that modifies:
most or least of a specific quality. They ’re usually
a verb (He drove slowly. — How did he drive?)
formed by adding the suffix “-est”
an adjective (He drove a very fast car. — How
Ex: fast was his car?)
another adverb (She moved quite slowly down
Even the greatest athletes need adequate the aisle. — How slowly did she move?)
rest.
For two-syllable words that end in “y,” the “y” is
replaced with “-iest” ADVERB OF MANNER
Ex: tells how something happens [-ly]
All the courses were delicious, but the Ex:
dessert was the tastiest.
He was driving carelessly.
She bravely rescued a kitten from a tree.
VERB
ADVERB OF FREQUENCY
Action Verbs - express action, something that a
person, animal, force of nature, or thing can do describes how often something happens
Ex:
Linking/Helping Verbs - they connect the
subject of a verb to additional information about The children always go to school by car.
the subject I clean my bedroom everyday.
ADVERB OF PLACE
tells us where something happens
Ex:
The boys are playing upstairs.
She loves to spend sunny afternoons
outside.
TRANSITIVE VERBS: have an object to receive an
action
ADVERB OF TIME
Ex:
tells us when something happens
I baked some cookies.
Ex:
We are going to see a movie tomorrow. Examples:
I visited my old school last week.
The brother and sister study their lessons.
Ana and Bella are on their way to the airport
ADVERB OF DEGREE
describes the intensity of an action or quality RULE #2
very, really, extremely, incredibly, too, quite,
barely, deeply, fairly, greatly, hardly, highly, A compound subject referring to a single person,
intensely, somewhat, totally, little, less, least, object, or idea requires singular verb.
much, more, most Examples:
Ex: My best friend and mentor is my sister.
It is really hot in this university. Peaches and cream is my favorite dessert.
He barely knew how to cook at all.
RULE #3
PREPOSITION Some subjects always take a singular verb even
It is a word used to link nouns, pronouns, or phrases though the meaning may seem plural.
to other words within a sentence. These subjects always take singular verbs:
each
PREPOSITIONS OF TIME either anyone
neither everyone
I was born on July 4th, 1982. one no one
I was born in 1982. someone nobody
I was born at 7:00AM. every somebody
You must finish reviewing by Friday. anybody
I was born after the Great War ended. everybody
PREPOSITIONS OF PLACE Examples:
The cat is on the table. Someone in the game was hurt.
The dogs are in the kennel. Neither of the men is working.
We can meet at the crossroads. Every student is required to participate in the
The cat is under the table. school’s event.
The key is locked inside the car.
PREPOSITIONS OF DIRECTION
RULE #4
The girl ran toward her father the moment
she saw him. When compound subjects are joined by or/nor, the
Jerry jumped into the river to help his sister. verb should agree with the noun closest to it.
The ball rolled down the hill. Examples:
When will Eru be returning from Japan?
Celery or spring onion works fine.
Your mom or sisters have to be here in an
hour.
Lesson 3: SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT
SVA BASIC RULE RULE #5
A singular subject takes a singular verb, whereas a For sentences using ‘either..or’ and ‘neither..nor’, the
plural subject takes a plural verb. verb should agree with the noun or pronoun that is
closest to it.
Examples:
Examples:
She writes every day.
They write every day. My aunt or my uncle is arriving by train
today.
RULE #1 Neither Juan nor Carmen is available.
Compound subjects take plural verbs.
Neither the plates nor the serving bowls go noun is a noun used to name a whole group.
on that shelf. Following are some common examples:
Neither the teacher nor the students visit
the library. army committee
public audience
Sometimes the subject is separated from the verb by herd swarm
such words as along with, as well as, besides, not, crowd jury
etc. These words and phrases are not part of the class flock
subject. Ignore them and use a singular verb when team club
the subject is singular. orchestra troop
group
Examples:
Examples:
The politician, along with the newsmen, is
expected shortly. The orchestra is playing a hit song.
The Prime Minister, together with his wife,
greets the press cordially. NOTE: (Orchestra is considered as one unit
—singular.)
The orchestra were asked to give their musical
RULE #6 backgrounds.
With words that indicate portions—a lot, a majority, NOTE: (Orchestra is considered as separate
some, all—use a verb that corresponds to the “OF individuals —plural)
PHRASE”
The committee agrees on the quality of the
.Ex: writing.
A lot of the pie has disappeared. The committee participate in various volunteer
Some of the books are torn and damaged. activities in their private lives.
All of my dresses have become tight.
RULE #10
RULE #7
Some nouns, while plural in form, are actually
In sentences beginning with here or there, the true singular in meaning.
subject follows the verb.
mumps thesis
Examples: statistics gymnastics
There are four hurdles to jump. social studies economics
There is a high hurdle to jump. measles mathematics
Here are the keys. news physics
Here is your book. Examples:
Mathematics is an easy subject for some
RULE #8 people.
Physics is taught by Prof. Santos.
Use a singular verb with distances, periods of time,
sums of money, or unit of measurement when
considered as a unit. RULE #12
Examples: The subject NUMBER is PLURAL when it is
1267 kilometres is too long for us to travel in preceded by the article A—an expression that means
half a day. “several” If it is preceded by the article THE, it is
Five years is the maximum sentence for that SINGULAR.
offense. Examples:
Ten dollars is a high price to pay but ten dollars
were scattered on the floor. A number of employees were promoted by their
supervisors.
RULE #9 The number of those attending the meeting
remains constant.
Collective nouns may be singular or plural,
depending on their use in the sentence. A collective
RULE #13
Fractions are singular or plural depending upon the
“OF PHRASE”
Example:
Two-thirds of the married people are predicted to
separate sooner or later.
RULE #14
The expression “MANY A” is followed by a singular
noun and takes a singular verb.
Example:
Many a woman follows the latest fashion.
RULE #15
Nouns such as scissors, refreshments, pliers,
clothes, trousers, etc. are always plural and require
plural verbs.
If the word PAIR precedes one of these nouns, use a
singular form of the verb.
Examples:
Scissors are needed in the office.
A pair of jeans is all I have.
RULE #16
Impersonal pronoun “it” at the beginning of a
sentence is followed by a singular verb.
Example:
It is his suggestions that finally take
precedence.
RULE #17
Adjectives used as nouns are considered plural.
Examples:
The old need some recognition to feel that
they belong.
The rich are privileged.
RULE #18
Abstract nouns are considered as singular subjects,
so make sure you use a singular verb along with it.
Examples:
Honesty is the best policy.
Love makes people do crazy things.
Good friendship keeps your mind and body
healthy.
